Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa requirements
Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa covers four applicant categories and their published eligibility requirements. The Thai legal basis, application and stay rules, fees and family eligibility are published.
Legal basis and authority
The LTR visa is a special temporary-stay category established under a Ministry of Interior announcement. The announcement cites sections 5 and 17 of the Immigration Act and assigns qualifications endorsement to the Board of Investment (BOI), with visa issuance handled by Thai embassies or consulates abroad or Immigration in Thailand.[2]
Applicant categories and published criteria
The program recognizes four principal categories: Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, Work-from-Thailand Professionals, and Highly-skilled Professionals. Each category has its own criteria, and qualifying conditions must be maintained during the visa period.[1]
- Wealthy Global Citizens hold at least USD 1 million in assets and make a Thailand investment of at least USD 500,000. The listed qualifying investments include government bonds, direct investment in Thai-registered companies, or Thai property.[1]
- Wealthy Pensioners are retirees aged 50 or older with annual pension or stable passive income. The stated income threshold is USD 80,000; a lower amount from USD 40,000 can be paired with an additional USD 250,000 investment.[1]
- Work-from-Thailand Professionals work remotely for established overseas companies. The average personal income benchmark is USD 80,000, and the employer must meet qualifying criteria, such as being a listed public company or a qualifying private company.[1]
- Highly-skilled Professionals work in targeted industries for Thai business entities, educational or research institutions, specialized training institutions, or government agencies. The general income benchmark is USD 80,000, with an exception for applicants working for Thai government agencies.[1]
- For the professional categories, alternatives to the USD 80,000 income benchmark apply when income is at least USD 40,000, together with additional qualification evidence. Coverage options for several categories include health insurance coverage of USD 50,000, Thai social security, or a maintained bank balance of USD 100,000 for 12 months.[1]
Family members
The legal announcement allows accompanying legal spouses and lawful children aged no more than 20, with a combined maximum of four dependents. Each child holds dependent status only until age 20.[1]
The published dependent criteria include health insurance covering USD 50,000, Thai social security, or a bank balance of USD 25,000 per dependent maintained for at least 12 months.
Fees and work permission
The Thai announcement sets a one-time visa fee of 50,000 baht for the foreign national and dependents. The fee is 50,000 baht per person for ten years when the visa is collected in Thailand, and fees charged overseas may vary. BOI does not charge for the qualifications endorsement process.[1]
LTR holders working for an entity in Thailand are required to apply for permission to work. The stated work permit maintenance fee is 3,000 baht per person per year; the BOI says a work permit is not granted to Work-from-Thailand Professionals because they work remotely for foreign employers.[1]
Stay, reporting, and renewal
The visa has ten-year validity, while initial permission to stay is limited to five years. A further stay period of up to five years may be granted after the qualifications are endorsed again, and the combined permission cannot exceed the visa's validity.[2]
The government announcement requires residence notification after each year of stay. LTR holders report once a year instead of making the ordinary 90-day report, and they are exempt from re-entry permits.[1]
Questions and answers
Which categories can apply for the LTR visa?
The four categories are Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, Work-from-Thailand Professionals, and Highly-skilled Professionals.
What is the visa fee in Thailand?
The published fee is 50,000 baht per person for the visa when collected in Thailand. Fees charged abroad may vary.[1]
Does the LTR visa include work permission?
LTR holders working for an entity in Thailand are required to apply for work permission. Work-from-Thailand Professionals do not receive a work permit because their employer is abroad.[1]
Related resources
Related glossary terms
Related articles and guides
- Uruguay residence: published requirements: Uruguay's published residence routes, eligibility categories and application requirements, with fees and the steps toward a residence certificate for citizens.
- Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment: requirements: Cyprus's investor permit sets eligibility and investment levels for third-country applicants, with separate terms for family members, plus fees and residence.
- Dominica Citizenship by Investment: published requirements: Dominica's citizenship by investment programme: its legal authority, investment routes and published amounts, family categories and application process.
Related pages
- Residency by investment: All program pages.
Sources and data notes
- Thailand Board of Investment, LTR Visa Thailand, Long Term Resident Program. https://ltr.boi.go.th/. Retrieved .
- Royal Thai Government Gazette, Announcement of the Ministry of Interior on Special Permission for Certain Groups of Aliens to Stay in the Kingdom (2022). https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/17209941.pdf. Retrieved .
- Thailand Board of Investment, LTR Visa Thailand, Visa Issuance. https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/visa-issuance-info.html. Retrieved .
- Thailand Board of Investment, LTR Visa Thailand, Long Term Resident Program. https://ltr.boi.go.th/. Retrieved .
Dates in this block record when each source was read for this page.